Top chefs cause a stir at village

260817 Richard Townend from Sherburn in Elemt Camera Club looking at the prize winning photographs in the Nature catagory part of the Sherburn in Elmet Craft and Food festival.

Published:14:47Wednesday 30 August 2017

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Sherburn’s first Craft and Food Festival proved highly popular, with several thousand people attending over the three days.

Demonstrations by celebrity chefs including Rosemary Shrager, Nigel Brown and Howard Middleton proved a huge attraction, while a children’s cookery school and competitions gave budding chefs a chance to showcase their skills.

260817 Finley Nicholson 5 from Sherburn in Elmet making pizza with Dawn Carvey of 'Kids in the Kitchen' part of the Sherburn in Elmet Craft and Food festival.

Some of the profits made from the festival, once substantial costs are met, will be shared among community groups in the village, say its volunteer organisers, Sherburn in Elmet Teasel Community Interest Trust. Sherburn and South Milford were once the biggest suppliers of dried teasel flower heads to the wool textile industry in Yorkshire. They raised the nap on fabrics by teasing the fibres.

A large band of willing volunteers acted as information providers and safety stewards for the event, including many who are keeping Sherburn Community Library as a successful village service.

Although there was good weather on all three days, organisers took the precaution of locating over 100 food and craft stalls in huge marquees, while the cookery school and demonstrations were held in the auditorium of the Eversley Park Centre.

Family attractions included a wide range of live entertainment on the main stage, a farm animal petting area, miniature railway and fairground rides, circus skills workshops, medieval combat demonstrations and birds of prey displays.

260817 Howard Middleton who was a contestant in the Great British Bake Off and who took part in last years Christmas Special of the programme in the Cookery Theatre at the Sherburn in Elmet Craft and Food festival.

Vintage and classic cars and motor cycles were displayed in the centre of the village, while other displays took place at All Saints’ Church and the Methodist Church.

Having pledged to stage the second Craft and Food Festival during the next August Bank Holiday, its organisers have invited suggestions on how the event might be improved.

260817 Howard Middleton who was a contestant in the Great British Bake Off and who took part in last years Christmas Special of the programme in the Cookery Theatre at the Sherburn in Elmet Craft and Food festival with Lauren Jones 13 and Liz Jones from Selby .